2.5.3 Protected areas and wetlands notes

1. 2.5.3.1Protected area network: national parks, sanctuaries, conservation and community reserves

   India's protected areas are created under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 in four types — national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves and community reserves — and together cover about 5% of the country.

   Advanced · 8 min · Full course
2. 2.5.3.2Biosphere reserves and UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere programme

   A biosphere reserve is a large landscape zoned into core, buffer and transition areas to combine conservation with sustainable development; India has 18, and some are also on UNESCO's World Network under the Man and the Biosphere programme.

   Advanced · 7 min · Full course
3. 2.5.3.3Project Tiger, tiger reserves and the NTCA

   Project Tiger, launched in 1973 with nine reserves, now runs 58 tiger reserves under the statutory National Tiger Conservation Authority; India holds about three-quarters of the world's wild tigers, and the largest reserve, Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam, is in Andhra Pradesh.

   Advanced · 8 min · Full course
4. 2.5.3.4Project Elephant and other species recovery programmes: rhino, crocodile, snow leopard, bustard and cheetah

   Besides Project Tiger, India runs species programmes for the elephant (1992), crocodiles (1975), rhino, snow leopard, bustards, lion, dolphin and cheetah, each built on a mix of habitat protection, breeding and reintroduction.

   Advanced · 8 min · Full course
5. 2.5.3.5Wetlands: types, functions and the Wetlands Rules 2017

   Wetlands are lands soaked with water — marshes, lakes, lagoons, mangroves, shallow coastal waters — that purify water, absorb floods and support rich life; in India they are regulated by the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 made under the Environment (Protection) Act.

   Advanced · 8 min · Full course
6. 2.5.3.6Ramsar sites of India

   Ramsar sites are wetlands listed as "Wetlands of International Importance" under the 1971 Ramsar Convention; India joined in 1982, began with Chilika and Keoladeo, and has 101 sites (as of Oct 2026), with Tamil Nadu having the most and Andhra Pradesh one — Kolleru.

   Advanced · 8 min · Full course
7. 2.5.3.7Natural World Heritage sites and eco-sensitive zones

   India has seven natural and one mixed World Heritage Site under UNESCO's 1972 convention, and around its parks and sanctuaries it notifies eco-sensitive zones under the Environment (Protection) Act to act as shock absorbers.

   Advanced · 8 min · Full course
8. 2.5.3.8Human–wildlife conflict and community participation in conservation

   As wildlife numbers recover and habitats shrink, conflict with people over crops, cattle and lives is rising; lasting conservation depends on sharing benefits and decisions with local communities, from Joint Forest Management to community reserves.

   Advanced · 9 min · Full course

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